female brains more R-L interconnected

source: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/12/male-and-female-brains-really-are-built-differently/281962/

Researchers: University of Pennsylvania (including Radiology)
N = 949 subjects aged 8-22
Method: MRI
Results: male brains have more connections WITHIN each hemisphere, while female brains are more interconnected BETWEEN hemispheres (L = "logical" and R = "creative")

Upper: Male, Lower: Female

Implication:
> "... men tend to see issues and resolve them directly, due to the strong connections between the 'perception' and 'action' areas of their brains
> while females might be more inclined to combine LOGIC and INTUITION when solving a problem."

> (past research) across cultures, female brains are more functionally interconnected when at REST vs men's, on average

NB: the differences were less prominent in young children, but became prominent in adolescents.

ETC: one reason why autism rates are higher among males, could be because a form of the gene NRXN3 is produced at higher levels in male brains.

physicians' diagnostic center

RE: Physicians’ Diagnostic Services Center, Inc. (PDS)

      4^th Flr. Physicans’ Tower Bldg., 533 U>N> Ave. cor. San Carlos St., Ermita, Manila

      T 521-7892; 524-0626 to 28; TF 523-7833

      E: peddeguz@gmail.com

Fr: PDDS 2018 Calendar

Branches:

CEBU

No. 108 F. Ramos St., cor. Junquera St., Cebu City

T 254-1778; TF 254-3707

E: pds_cebu@yahoo.com

DAVAO

# 49 Jose Palma Gil ST.,. Brgy 4A, District 1, Davao City

T (82) 224-6672; TF (82) 224-6673

E: dbwpds@yahoo.com

CAGAYAN DE ORO

PDS PEME System Int’l.

Burgos St., cor. T. Chaves St.,

Brgy 6, Cagayan de Oro City

T (88) 851-1500; TF 851-1502

VISION

We aim to be the leading and most preferred diagnostic clinic in the Philippine overseas employment industry.

MISSION

In order to attain our vision, we continually strive to provide world-class pre-employment medical examination to our clients to ensure that their Filipino applicants are physiologically and psychologically fit for overseas employment.

HISTORY

PDS is a group of clinics engaged in the HEALTH SCREENING of workers for OVERSEAS employment. With over 40 years of experience, we continue to be in the forefront of the pre-employment medical examination industry. We are the LARGEST group of industrial clinics, with the main office located in Manila and satellite clinics in key cities, such as Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro.

Being one of the early-adopters of the development of OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH in the Philippines, Dr. Pedro de Guzman has worked with the Department of Health (DOH), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), in establishing standards for OFW clinics.

In the early ‘90s, Dr. de Guzman became a member of the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH), where he became the official delegate representing the Philippine College of Occupational Medicine. During this time, ICOH decided to establish an association that focused on maritime health, forming the International Maritime Health Association (IMAH), a Belgium-based organization of maritime doctors and stakeholders in the maritime health sector.

In 1992, the POEA and the DOH requested for Dr. de Guzman to establish a medical center in Cebu. At that time, two of the country’s largest agencies, MAGSAYSAY Maritime Corporation (MMC) and Philippine TRANSMARINE Carriers (PTC), decided to establish their respective branches in the PDS-Cebu building, seeing how this benefited OFWs in the region.

The POEA again urged Dr. de Guzman to establish a new satellite clinic in Davao City. With this, MMC followed suit and established their Davao branch in the PDS-Davao building. Not long after, Dr. de Guzman established branches in Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro upon the request of P&I Clubs and crewing agencies.

In 2001, Dr. Pedro de Guzman led the 61^st International Symposium on Maritime Health in Manila – considered the largest gathering of international maritime health experts.

SERVICES

I.            PRE-EMPLOYMENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION

1.    Seafarer (DOH Requirements, P&I Clubs, Flagstate Requirements)

2.    Landbased (Overseas employment, Host country requirement)

II.          LABORATYORY EXAMINATIONS

1.    Blood Chemistry Panels

a.    Electrolytes

b.    Liver Function Test

c.    Kidney Function Test

d.    Lipid Profile

2.    Diabetes Mellitus

3.    Drug Screening and Alcohol Test

a.    Screening tests for prohibited drugs

4.    Immunology

a.    Thyroid Function Test

b.    Infectious Diseases (Varicella, Rubella, Rubeola) – IgG, IgM

c.    Autoimmune Diseases (ASO, ANA, CRP, RF, C3 determniation)

d.    Tumor Markers

5.    Serology

a.    Hepatitis A, B, C

b.    RPR/TRHA

c.    HIV 1&2

6.    Hematology

a.    Complete Blood Count (CBC)

b.    Hemostasis & Coagulation Studies

c.    Peripheral Smear

d.    Malarial Parasite Examination

e.    Blood Typing with Rh Factor

7.    Bacteriology & Microbiology

a.    Urinalysis

b.    Stood Analysis (FECT Method)

c.    Acid Fast Bacili Smear

III.        RADIOLOGIC EXAMINATION

1.    Digital Radiography

2.    Panoramic X-ray (Digital)

3.    Ultrasonography

IV.         PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST

1.    Spirometry

2.    Peak Flow Meter

V.           CARIOVASCULAR

1.    12 Leads ECG

2.    Treadmill Exercise Test (Stress Test)

3.    20 Echocardiography

a.    Plain

b.    With color flow Doppler study

4.    Stress Echocardiography

VI.         CHEMICAL TEST

1.    Benzene

VII.       DENTAL SERVICES

VIII.     OPTICAL SERVICES

IX.         VACCINATIONS

X.           OTHER TESTS

1.    Tuberculin Test (PPD)

2.    Pap Smear

3.    Functional Capacity Evaluation

on "bangungot"

Re: Bangugnot
Fr: Fwd by albertpogoy_2005@yahoo.com 20008 Feb 18

It seems only MALES are afflicted with this.

Article from THE PHILIPPINE STAR:
The reported cause of actor Rico Yan's death is nightmare or bangungot. Medical investigators in China, Japan and several Asian countries who performed autopsies on persons who died from "acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis" found out that the majority of them had eaten NOODLES as their supper. This was a startling finding.

However, it wasn't the noodles that caused nightmares but DEHYDRATION. Imbibing even with a few drinks of alcohol or just eating noodles immediately before bedtime compound this on an empty stomach will trigger an electrolyte imbalance and other factors that causes a person to dehydrate or lose water.

It is therefore advisable for a person to take several glasses of water before bedtime if he had a few or several alcoholic drinks. Avoid eating noodles before bedtime, but if you can not avoid it, allow at least two hours for the body to digest the noodles before hitting the sack and drink plenty of water.

The most important thing is, never go thirsty when going to bed and be sure you have plenty of water during your 8-hour rest.

DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven its value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases: Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.

breast cancer: prevention: no bras

Re: Breast Cancer, Prevention
Fr: fwd email fr dandount@hotmail.com. “Bra & Health.” 2008 Jan 24 (undercore mine)

… For years, a lot of articles with regard to the causes of breast cancer point to an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise as the major links to this disease which happens to be the biggest killer among women during these last two decades.
These studies would have been most credible if it were not for the fact that several women including Linda McCartney who have been religious vegetarians and exercise-freaks have also been unfortunate in suffering breast cancer.
Perhaps the most convincing article I have ever read with regard to this matter is one which links breast cancer to the wearing of bras.
In the "Bra and Breast Cancer Study" in the United States, it was discovered that women with breast cancer had a history of sporting tighter and longer bra-wearing than did the women who had not (yet) developed the disease.
In fact, virtually the entire cancer group wore bras over 12 hours.
When a woman wears a tight bra, she subjects her breasts to pressure, closing off the lymphatic pathway from the breast to the nodes.
This causes fluid built-up swelling, tenderness and cyst formation.
Toxins must be flushed out via the lymphatic pathway.
However, a bra-constricted breast cannot adequately perform this cleansing process, resulting in toxin accumulation in the breast.
Truthfully, bras are creating droopy, weak breasts......the breast relies on the bras for artificial support; the body loses its ability to support the breast by itself.
This is why many women feel uncomfortable without the bra.
What is the solution to breast cancer then?
DON'T WEAR A TIGHT BRA!
And maybe sleep without them.
There is a remarkable success rate for recovery from fibrocystic breast disease within 10 days to two weeks of going bra-free.
Many women have tried going bra-less and recorded a miraculous improvement in their health!...

medicines for colds and cough: caution

Re: Colds and Cough, Treatment in Children; Caution
Fr: Excerpted from Associated Press (2008 Jan 17). “FDA: Cold medicines too risky for tots.” http://news.yahoo.com/sap/20080117/ap_on_re_me /cold_ medicines (underscore mine)

• WHAT
“Washington – Parents should not give sniffing babies and toddlers over-the-counter cough and cold medicines – they’re too risky for tots so small, the government will declare Thursday.

“… the Food and Drug Administration [FDA] is issuing a public health advisory on Thursday to warn parents to avoid these drugs for children under age 2 ‘because serious and potentially life-threatening side effects can occur.’

“… last October…. the FDA’s own scientific advisers voted that the drugs don’t even work in small children and shouldn’t be used in preschoolers, either – anyone under age 6.

“… the FDA is asking an even bigger question: are over-the-counter cold remedies safe and effective for children under 12? The agency’s advisers last fall stopped short of recommending no use by children ages 6 to 11, but they did call for more research….

• WHY
“… decades ago,… scientists thought that what worked in adults would automatically work in children. Scientists today know that is not always the case.

“There’s no evidence that these oral drugs actually ease cold symptoms in children so young – some studies suggest they do no good at all. And while serious side effects are fairly rare, they do occur. Indeed, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention last year reported that more than 1,500 babies and toddlers wound up in emergency rooms over a 2-year period because of the drugs.

• WHAT NOW
Give lots of liquids to them.
“Meantime, the FDA’s advice for children over 2:
-- If you use these drugs, carefully follow label directions.
-- If you give two medicines that have the same or similar ingredients, a child could overdose.
-- Understand that these drugs only treat symptoms. Colds are viruses, and the drugs will not make them go away any faster….”

health tips: brain and liver

Re: Health Tips, Brain and Liver
Fr: fwd by dandount@hotmail.com, 2007 nov 12

BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS

1. No Breakfast
People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level.
This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2. Overeating
It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. Smoking
It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar consumption
Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution
The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6. Sleep Deprivation
Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.

7. Head covered while sleeping
Sleeping with the head covered, increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8. Working your brain during illness
Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts
Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely
Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The main causes of liver damage are:

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.
2. Not urinating in the morning.
3. Too much eating.
4. Skipping breakfast.
5. Consuming too much medication.
6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.
7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.
8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver.
Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to "schedule."

Because:

Evening at 9 - 11pm: is the time for eliminating unnecessary/toxic chemicals (detoxification) from the antibody system (lymph nodes). This time duration should be spent by relaxing or listening to music. If during this time a housewife is still in an unrelaxed state such as washing the dishes or monitoring children doing their homework, this will have a negative impact on health.

Evening at 11pm - 1am: is the detoxification process in the liver, and ideally should be done in a deep sleep state.

Early morning 1 - 3am: detoxification process in the gall, also ideally done in a deep sleep state.
Early morning 3 - 5am: detoxification in the lungs. Therefore there will sometimes be a severe cough for cough sufferers during this time. Since the detoxification process had reached the respiratory tract, there is no need to take cough medicine so as not to interfere with toxin removal process.
Morning 5 - 7am: detoxification in the colon, you should empty your bowel.

Morning 7 - 9am: absorption of nutrients in the small intestine, you should be having breakfast at this time. Breakfast should be earlier, before 6:30am, for those who are sick. Breakfast before 7:30am is very beneficial to those wanting to stay fit. Those who always skip breakfast, they should change their habits, and it is still better to eat breakfast late until 9 - 10am rather than no meal at all.

Sleeping so late and waking up too late will disrupt the process of removing unnecessary chemicals. Aside from that, midnight to 4:00 am is the time when the bone marrow produces blood. Therefore, have a good sleep and don't sleep late.
TAKE CARE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.................

feet: importance

re: "how to save your sole"
fr: 7days (2007 nov 11), p. 21.

"home to 33 joints, 107 ligaments, 19 muscles and 26 bones -- a quarter of all the bones in our body -- our FEET set the alignment for the rest of our body. and if our feet are not right, repercussions can be felt all the way up the jaw.

"the pressure generated on the foot from wearing very high or very low shoes can lead to all sorts of deformities and problems, like HEEL pain, hammer TOES (when one toe bends downward) or claw FOOT (when a toes bends downward and another upward). the problem then ricochets quickly up the kinetic chain of the body to the KNEE, affecting the gait cycle when you walk, the way that the HIP moves, teh position of the PELVIS and the direction of the SPINE. your foot's alignment can even address symptoms as high as the NECK and the JAW."

reflection:
the feet psychologically symbolize stability. foundation. rootedness. in architecture, the whole structure can solely depend on the foundation.

body mass index calculator

BMI online calculator:
http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/index-1688-143.htm/?c=101012

medrol

Re: Medicines; Steroids; Methylprednisolone (Medrol tabs)
Fr: Pharmacia

• Properties
Group: synthetic glucocorticoids*
Effect: on inflammatory and immune process; also on carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism; also act on cardiovascular system, skeletal muscles, and the CNS
---------------
*properties of glucocortisoids:
(1) ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
(2) IMMUNOSUPRESSIVE
(3) ANTI-ALLERGIC

• Indications
A. Endocrine D/Os – adrenocortical insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, nonsuppurative thyroiditis, hypercalcemia associates with cancer
B. Nonendocrine D/Os – rheumatic d/o (ex: rheumatoid arthritis), collagen d/e (ex: systemic lupus erythematosus), dermatologic d/e (ex: severe psoriasis), allergic states (ex: bronchial asthma), opthatmic d/e (ex: herpes zoster ophthalmicus), respiratory d/e (ex: aspiration pneumonitis), hematologic d/o (ex: RBC anemia), noeplastic d/e (ex: leukemias & lymphomas in adults), edematous states, gastrointestinal d/e (ex: ulcerative colitis), nervous system (ex: acute exacertabtions of MS), miscellaneous (ex: tuberculous meningitis), organ transplantation

• Dosage and administration
- Variable, individualized on the basis of d/e and px’s response
- Gradual withdrawal
- Constant monitoring needed
- Dosage adjustment situations:
(a) clinical status secondary to remissions or exacerbations
(b) px’s individual drug responsiveness
(c) “the effect of px exposure to STRESSFUL+ situations not directly related to the d/e….”
- ADT (alternate day therapy) to minimize undesirable effects, incl pituitary-adrenal suppression, the Cushingoid state*, corticoid withdrawal & growth suppression in children

• Contra-indications
- systemic fungal infections
- known hypersensitiviety to methylprednisolone

• Adverse reactions
- fluid & electrolyte disturbances – sodium retention, congestive heart failure in susceptible patients, hypertension, fluid retention, potassium loss and hypokalemic alkalosis
- musculoskeletal – steroid mypathy, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, pathologic fractures, vertebral compression fractures and aseptic necrosis
- gastrointestinal – peptic ulceration with possible perforation and hemorrhage, gastric hemorrhage, pancreatitis, esophagitis & perforation of the bowel
- dermatologic – impaired wound healing, petechiae & ecchymosis, & thin fragile skin
- metabolic – negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism
- neurological – increased intracranial pressure, pseudotumor cerebri, psychic derangements & seizures
- endocrine – menstrual irregularities, development of Cushingoid state*, suppression of pituitary-adrenal axis, decreased carbohydrate tolerace, manifestation of latent diabetes mellitus, increased requirements from insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetics & suppression of growth in children
- ophthalmic – posterior subcapsular cataracts, increased intraocular pressure and exophthalmos
- immune system – masking of infections, latent infections becoming active, opportunistic infections, hypersensitivity reactions during anaphylaxis & may suppress reactions to skin tests

• Special precaution
“In pxs on corticosteroid therapy subject to UNUSUAL STRESS+, in creased dosage of rapidly acting corticosteroids before, during & after the stressful situation is indicated.”
- there may be decreased resistance & inability to localize infection
- prolonged use may produce posterior subcapsular cataracts, glaucoma with possible damage to the optic nerves & may enhance the establishment of secondary ocular infections due to fungi or viruses
- allergic reactions (ex: angioedema) may occur
- may cause elevation of blood pressure, salt & water retention & increased excretion of potassium and calcium
- NB: no vaccination against smallpox & other immunization procedures while under therapy due to possible neurologic complications & lack of antibody response
- osteoporosis is a common but infrequently recognized adverse effect associated with a long-term use of large doses of glucocorticoids
- with impaired host defenses, susceptibility to fungus and bacterial and viral infections increases
- “Drug-induced adrenocortical insufficiency may be minimized by gradual reduction of dosage. This type of relative insufficiency may persist for months after discontinuation of therapy; therefore, in any situation of STRESS+ occurring during that period, hormone therapy should be reinstituted….”
- psychic derangements may appear ranging from euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes & severe depression to frank psychotic manifestations. also, existing emotional instability or psychotic tendencies may be aggravated by corticosteroids.
- “Corticosteroids should be used with caution in nonspecific ulcerative colitis if there is a probability of impending perforation, abscess or other pyogenic infection, verticulitis, fresh intestinal anastomoses, active or latent peptic ulcer, renal insufficienty, hypertension, osteoporosis, or MYASTHENIA GRAVIS.
NB: “Because complications of treatment with glucocorticoids are dependent on the size of the dose and the duration of treatment, a RISK/BENEFIT DECISION must be made in each individual case as to dose and duration of treatment and as to whether daily or intermittent therapy should be used.”

• Pregnancy and lactation
- some animal studies showed fetal malformations when corticosteroids were administered to the mother at high doses

• Overdose
- no clinical syndrome of acute overdosage; repeated frequent doses over a protracted period may result in a Cushingoid state* & other complications or chronic steroid therapy.

• Storage
- room temperature below 25 degrees centigrade

_____________
*Cushing’s Syndrome = A syndrome caused by an increased production of ACTH from a tumor of the adrenal cortex or of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, or by excessive intake of glucocorticoids. It is characterized by obesity and weakening of the muscles. [After Harvey Williams CUSHING = The American neurosurgeon Harvey Williams Cushing (1869-1939) who developed operative techniques that made brain surgery feasible..]
Cuhing's disease was first described by him. It is a disorder attributed to hyperactivity of the cortex of the adrenal glands and affects women more than men. The symptoms include obesity (moonface, an accumulation of fat at the back of the neck called buffalo hump, and abdominal protrusion), hypertension, hirsutism [abnormal hair growth], and easy bruisability. Treatment is by X-ray therapy if the pituitary body is involved or by surgical removal of one or both adrenal glands.
Symptoms of cortisol excess+ (resulting from medication or from the body's excess production of the hormone) include:
• weight gain
• an abnormal accumulation of fatty pads in the face (creating the distinctive "moon face" of Cushing's syndrome); in the trunk (termed "truncal obesity"); and over the upper back and the back of the neck (giving the individual what has been called a "buffalo hump")
• purple and pink stretch marks across the abdomen and flanks
• high blood pressure
• weak, thinning bones (osteoporosis)
• weak muscles
• low energy
• thin, fragile skin, with a tendency toward both bruising and slow healing
• abnormalities in the processing of sugars (glucose), with occasional development of actual diabetes
• kidney stones
• increased risk of infections
• emotional disturbances, including mood swings, depression, irritability, confusion, or even a complete break with reality (psychosis)
• irregular menstrual periods in women
• decreased sex drive in men and difficulty maintaining an erection
• abnormal hair growth in women (in a male pattern, such as in the beard and mustache area), as well as loss of hair from the head (receding hair line)
- sources: http://www.answers.com/topic/cushing-s-syndrome?cat=health, http://www.answers.com/topic/harvey-cushing?cat=health

_______________
+cortisol = the “stress hormone”

personal comment:
today is 2007 oct 7 (feast of our lady of the rosary). coincidentally, it is also the death anniversary of the dr. Cushing (may his noble soul rest in peace!), the discoverer of Cushing’s disease and syndrome which reflect my medication’s (medrol or prednisone) side effects!

rheumatoid arthritis: intro

Re: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Introduction
Fr: “It’s a real pain!” Friday (2007 Oct 5-11), pp. 58-62.

• Diagnosis

“RA is a chronic autoimmune disease (i.e.,… the immune system attacks the joints and surrounding soft tissues) that causes stiffness, pain, loss of mobility, inflammation and erosion (deterioration) in the joints.”
“… Normally, once our body clears out an infection, inflammation stops. In RA, however, the body’s immune system mistakes some organs as foreign and attacks them. This causes damage to the joints and other organs [… a SYSTEMIC disease].
Other symptoms:
- fatigue, fever, nodules under the skin (esp in elbows), & a sense of not feeling well (malaise)
- possible: anemia, vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels), systemic complications, and other co-existing autoimmune disorders; dry eyes and mouth (seen in Sjogren’s syndrome)

Rate:
- about 1% of the population; 75% women; usually 30-50 years old

Tests:
- no definitive test; usually blood test (ESR = erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP = C-reactive protein: to measure level of body inflammation)

Risk factors:
- smoking increase the risk factor for RA (p. 60)

• Course

Varied: (1) one joint, then others; (2) all joints at once

• Prognosis

RA is a PROGRESSIVE DISEASE: erosion and disintegration of lining of joints  cartilage  bones. Deterioration is IRREVERSIBLE. Damage is PERMANENT. Medicines don’t affect the disease process causing damage. May be POTENTIALLY FATAL.
“Left untreated, RA can shorten a person’s lifespan and can, within a few years, leave about 30-40% of those affected too disabled to work.
“Once STRUCTURAL DAMAGE sets in, it’s beyond repair. You can only prevent further deterioration.” (pp. 60 & 62)

emotional impact: depression and low self-esteem, especially in later stages, i.e., feels helpless, crippled and dependent

• Treatment:

- drug therapy
(1) DMAD = disease modifying antirheumatic drugs – used earl in treatment; for symptom relief; side effects to be monitored
(2) Biologics = Biologic Response Modifiers – reduce inflammation and relieve pain while fighting the disease; help slow progression of RA; prescribed if DMARD treatment goals not reached, or for additional benefits with DMARD; really effective in most cases but prohibitively expensive

- exercise
can sometimes help alleviate the condition, but depends on the patient and needs to be discussed with the doctor and physiotherapist; but strenuous exercise never advised!

- rest
- joint protection
- physical and occupational therapy
- surgery (when necessary)

breast cancer: symptoms

Re: Breast Cancer, Symptoms
Fr: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/medical_notes/3244315.stm

Symptoms

The most common way that a potential problem is detected is when physical changes are noticed in the breasts.

Regular breast screening may also highlight changes in the breast.

The key is for the woman to know what "normal" is - then changes can be noticed.

Examples of the kind of things to look out for include:

• a change in outline, shape or size of the breast
• puckering or dimpling of the skin
• any lump or thickening in the breast or armpit
• any flaking skin or discharge from the nipple
• unusual pain or discomfort

Any changes should be reported to a doctor - although most will turn out not to be cancerous.

Many lumps will be picked up with mammograms - x-rays of the breast taken every few years as part of the NHS national screening programme.

If a lump is found, techniques used to investigate it include ultrasound and "fine needle aspiration", which will show whether the area is a solid lump or is a cyst.

A biopsy may also be carried out, so that a sample of the lump can be examined in a laboratory.

cancer-causing foods: top 5

Fr: fwd cecilcrudo@gmail.com 2007 sep 19

The top five cancer-causing foods are:

1. Hot dogs
Because they are high in nitrates,the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.

2. Processed meats and bacon
Also high in the same SODIUM NITRATES found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.

3. Doughnuts
Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.

4. French fries
Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acrylamides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .

5. Chips, crackers, and cookies
All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats

honey and cinnamon: cure-all formula

Facts on honey and cinnamon:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A. Honey
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is found that mixture of Honey and Cinnamon cures most of the diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world.

Ayurvedic as well as Yunani medicine have been using honey as a vital medicine for centuries.

Scientists of today also accept honey as a "Ram Ban" (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases.

Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients.

Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada, on its issue dated 17 January, 1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by Honey and Cinnamon as researched by western scientists.

HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, chappati, or other bread, instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also those who already had an attack, if they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack.

Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heartbeat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as age the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalizes the arteries and veins.

INSECT BITES: Take one part honey to two parts of lukewarm water and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder, make a paste and massage it on the itching part of the body slowly. It is noticed that the pain recedes within a minute or two.

ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured.

In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week out of the 200 people so treated practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

HAIR LOSS: Those suffering from hair loss or baldness, may apply a paste of hot olive oil, one tablespoon of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder before bath and keep it for approx. 15 min. and then wash the hair. It was found to be effective even if kept on for 5 minutes.

BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

TOOTHACHE: Make a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of honey and apply on the aching tooth. This may be applied 3 times a day till the tooth stops aching.

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder
mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to
reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken 3 times a day, any Chronic cholesterol is cured. As per information received in the said journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.

INFERTILITY: Yunani and Ayurvedic Medicine have been using honey for thousands of years to strengthen the semen of men. If impotent men regularly take two tablespoon of honey before going to sleep, their problem will be solved.

In China, Japan and Far-East countries, women, who do not conceive and need to strengthen the uterus, have been taking cinnamon powder for centuries. Women who cannot conceive may take a pinch of cinnamon powder in half teaspoon of honey and apply it on the gums frequently throughout the day, so that it slowly mixes with the saliva and enters the body.

A couple in Maryland, USA, had no children for 14 years and had lost hope of having a child of their own. When told about this process, husband and wife started taking honey and cinnamon as stated above; the wife conceived after a few months and had twins at full term.

UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomachache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root.

GAS: According to the studies done in India & Japan, it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food, relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

INFLUENZA: A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ingredient, which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly arrests the ravages of old age. Take 4 spoons of honey, 1 spoon of cinnamon powder and 3 cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, 3 to 4 times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age.

Life spans also increases and even a 100 year old, starts performing the chores of a 20-year-old.

PIMPLES: Three tablespoons of Honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS: Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

WEIGHT LOSS: Daily in the morning 1/2 hour before breakfast on an empty stomach and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one-cup water. If taken regularly it reduces the weight of even the most obese person.

Also, drinking of this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month 3 times a day.

FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon power in equal parts, are more alert and flexible.

Dr. Milton who has done research says that a half tablespoon honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3.00 p.m. when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week.

BAD BREATH: People of South America, first thing in the morning gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water. So their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder taken in equal parts restore hearing.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month ... which we know today as the honeymoon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- fwd by yaput@yahoo.com, 2007 agu 29

honey and cinnamon: cure-all formula

Facts on honey and cinnamon:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A. Honey
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is found that mixture of Honey and Cinnamon cures most of the diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world.

Ayurvedic as well as Yunani medicine have been using honey as a vital medicine for centuries.

Scientists of today also accept honey as a "Ram Ban" (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases.

Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients.

Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada, on its issue dated 17 January, 1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by Honey and Cinnamon as researched by western scientists.

HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, chappati, or other bread, instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also those who already had an attack, if they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack.

Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heartbeat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as age the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalizes the arteries and veins.

INSECT BITES: Take one part honey to two parts of lukewarm water and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder, make a paste and massage it on the itching part of the body slowly. It is noticed that the pain recedes within a minute or two.

ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured.

In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week out of the 200 people so treated practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

HAIR LOSS: Those suffering from hair loss or baldness, may apply a paste of hot olive oil, one tablespoon of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder before bath and keep it for approx. 15 min. and then wash the hair. It was found to be effective even if kept on for 5 minutes.

BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

TOOTHACHE: Make a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of honey and apply on the aching tooth. This may be applied 3 times a day till the tooth stops aching.

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder
mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to
reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken 3 times a day, any Chronic cholesterol is cured. As per information received in the said journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.

INFERTILITY: Yunani and Ayurvedic Medicine have been using honey for thousands of years to strengthen the semen of men. If impotent men regularly take two tablespoon of honey before going to sleep, their problem will be solved.

In China, Japan and Far-East countries, women, who do not conceive and need to strengthen the uterus, have been taking cinnamon powder for centuries. Women who cannot conceive may take a pinch of cinnamon powder in half teaspoon of honey and apply it on the gums frequently throughout the day, so that it slowly mixes with the saliva and enters the body.

A couple in Maryland, USA, had no children for 14 years and had lost hope of having a child of their own. When told about this process, husband and wife started taking honey and cinnamon as stated above; the wife conceived after a few months and had twins at full term.

UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomachache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root.

GAS: According to the studies done in India & Japan, it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food, relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

INFLUENZA: A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ingredient, which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly arrests the ravages of old age. Take 4 spoons of honey, 1 spoon of cinnamon powder and 3 cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, 3 to 4 times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age.

Life spans also increases and even a 100 year old, starts performing the chores of a 20-year-old.

PIMPLES: Three tablespoons of Honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS: Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

WEIGHT LOSS: Daily in the morning 1/2 hour before breakfast on an empty stomach and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one-cup water. If taken regularly it reduces the weight of even the most obese person.

Also, drinking of this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month 3 times a day.

FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon power in equal parts, are more alert and flexible.

Dr. Milton who has done research says that a half tablespoon honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3.00 p.m. when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week.

BAD BREATH: People of South America, first thing in the morning gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water. So their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder taken in equal parts restore hearing.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month ... which we know today as the honeymoon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- fwd by yaput@